Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-28

the town the night before, and, havin,
secured q fine harvest of dollars
were content to await with good grac
the coming of the tardy train.
The comedian and leading man wer
discussing the merits and dement's of
certain mythical party, who, as tn
comedian contemptuously expressed it
Thought he could act. The remain
ing professionals were congregated il
q group, telling scraps of personal ex
perience of "When I was with Jake
Skinner, or the Little Gem Party,
and so on, almost al i7afnit1tm. There
was one exception to the rule of remi
niscence retailers. This one, although
a member of the company, did moi
mingle in the time-killing pursuits o1
the others. She was girl of, say, 10,
just budding into perfect womanhood.
This was Florence Vernon, the pianist
of the Nonpareil party. Reared in a
home of luxury, and surrounded by all
that refinement could desire III the way
of perfect home-life, she did not take
kindly to the hit-and-miss existence
that falls to ths lot of member of q
second-class travelling theatrical COM
pany. Like many another girl, she
had looked upon life in the "profes-
sion" as little short of foretaste of
Paradise. A schoolgirl friend, who
had embraced the profession, secured
q position for her as pianist.
The high hopes with which she had
started out were already decidedly on
the wane. Only her pride kept her
from leaving the company and the gem
tcel tramp-life. and flying back to
the home where the dear ones would
SO rejoice at her coming. Her trial en-
gagement had been for two months,
and already she had resolved that the
period named would end her profess
sional career.
AS yet, Bruce Collins had formed
no definite plan as to hom he was to go.
But, now. as he stood at the stove and
| listened to the chatter of the tongues
about him, he began to revolve the sub
jcct in his mind.
Near him stood two tramps. They
were simply passing the time till the
arrival of tho wcst-bound train at mid
night, Bruce gathered from their NUT
terings
Here were living examples that men
could travel without money and still
not walk. Why not seek information
of them? This was the tenor of Bruce's
thoughts. Presently they edged near
the corner where Florence Vernon sat-
If he intcrrogated them there Bruce
was sure he would have no listeners,
unless, indeed, the young lady over
heard the conversation.
Bruce began with some unimportant
remark, to converse with the knights Of
| the road He told the reason that
lie desired to travel, of the dear ones
at home who We're calling for him.
The tramps, lost as they were to all
home ties, appreciated his condition,
and placed at his disposal their stock
OF information the fruits of years OF
"bumming' and "beating." BY the
time they had finished, Bruce had
gained something of an insight into the
art Of free riding. His recent illness
| began to tell on him, and he sought the
only vacant seat in the room, the one
beside the pretty pianist.
| Presently, as he sat beside her he
felt soft hand press a little package
into his palm. He looked quickly at
the girl, but. the little hand was rest
ing quietly at her side and she was gaz-
ing at the placards that adorned the
walls.
The package consisted of a dainty
little note, wrapped around two green
backs, wadded together. The note
read in hastily penciled lines:
@Poor man! overheard your conversation
with those tramps, just now and pity the
distress that causes you to go to such lengths
to be with the dear ones at home. Take the
enclosed sum, as q gift from an unknown
friend 81 ""
Tears Of gratitude sprang into his
eyes as he read. Then he slipped the
note carefully into his pocket. and,
edging closer to the girl he whispered,
as he dropped the bills into her now
interlaced hands:
mo, Miss. kind as the offer is, 1 can
not accept it. But, from the depths OF
a grateful heart, 1 thank you. May
God bless you for your kindness!"
She turned her face toward his.
"But you must take it," she said
"Your need demands it. Take it;
have au abundance
Her voice. almost whisper, was in
expressibly sweet to Bruces ears He
firmly declined, and seeing his deter
mination, she ceased to press the offe,
of the money upon him. Then they
fell into a friendly chat that lasted till
the arrival OF the long.delayed train
Her sympathy, so sweetly and YET
so delicately expressed, led him OF